Life's been hectic for Roddy Ricch since the release of his debut album, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial. Featuring smash hit The Box, the album saw him win BET Awards, an American Music Award and more, with rap lovers everywhere eagerly anticipating his next move.
However, rather than trying to rush something out in the months following, Roddy got to work. He's just released his new album, Live Life Fast, capturing the events of the last two years. He hasn't gone at it alone for this one, either, bringing along a raft of talented friends to help him realise his vision for the album.
To celebrate the release of Live Life Fast, we've taken a look at a few of the biggest features on the album. It's a testament to Roddy's music that he's been able to bring so many great artists together, but at the end of the day, it's his star that shines brightest across the 18-track project.
Future - all good
By this stage in Future's career, you know what you're going to get when you hear him on a track - but that doesn't make it any less captivating. When you've built a reputation for lighting up countless tracks with a feature over the years, then you can be trusted to do the same whenever you step into the booth.
It's not the first time that the pair have teamed up, and Future builds on the themes of Roddy's verses, bragging about just how good life is for him. Both artists aren't afraid to bask in the glow of their achievements, and Future's low, melodic flow meshes well with Roddy's slightly higher and faster delivery.
21 Savage - hibachi
21 Savage's evolution as a rapper over the last few years has seen him become one of the most exciting MCs on the planet. While many artists have been more low-key in 2021, it's been a busy year for 21. Earlier this year, he released the Spiral EP, used to soundtrack Spiral: From The Book Of Saw.
Savage's verse on hibachi is yet another example of why he's held in such high regard by rap fans. 21 Savage weaves through topics like love, his opps, his jewellery and more, with his verse peppered by his iconic ad-lib, "21". In an increasingly competitive rap landscape, 21 Savage's verses are instantly recognisable.
Lil Baby - moved to miami
Opening with an extended instrumental section, it takes a while to hear Lil Baby's vocals on moved to miami. From the first word, however, we're reminded why he's become one of the most in-demand feature artists in the world - every time he jumps on a track, he hits it out of the park.
moved to miami sees the pair trading verses about how fame's put a target on their heads, and how they find themselves handling it. Lil Baby's verse touches on the importance of being truthful in both his lyrics and his life outside of music, and he ends by signalling his intention to end up on Forbes' Rich List. Given Lil Baby's career arc to date, we can see it happening.
Fivio Foreign - murda one
murda one features production from both Nils and Kenny Beats, with Fivio Foreign jumping on the track to let warning shots fly in all directions. Fivio's become a fan favourite over the last couple of years thanks to collaborations with Lil Tjay and Pop Smoke, Drake, Lil Baby and more, and after listening to murda one, it's plain to see why he's so in-demand.
murda one is one of the highlights of Live Life Fast, and sees Roddy and Fivio rapping over a drill-influenced beat. Fivio's become one of the faces of Brooklyn drill, and he sounds right at home on Nils and Kenny Beats' production, letting those that might want to step to him that it's not going to end well. It's the first time these two have worked together, but given their chemistry, fingers crossed that it's not the last.
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Jamie Foxx - no way
Jamie Foxx's spoken-word outro on no way is key to the story of the album. In a fast-paced world, it's easy to feel pressure to move faster and faster - but ultimately, this can lead to someone's downfall. Roddy Ricch took his time when creating Live Life Fast, and it's resulted in a project that'll resonate with fans for a long time yet, rather than being disposable.
Jamie Foxx uses the outro on no way to impart some advice, reminding him that musical legends like Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and Anita Baker weren't afraid to slow things down. The outro leads into the next track, slow it down, which features Ty Dolla $ign and Alex Isley, and serves as the middle point of the album.
Live Life Fast features a mix of slower-paced solo songs from Roddy Ricch, and more fast-paced whenever he links up with other artists. It's an album that showcases the two sides of Roddy's personality - he wants to embrace his superstar status, but he's still a private person at heart. We learn more about Roddy as a person and an artist on Live Life Fast than ever before, but there's still an air of mystery that surrounds him, one that sets him apart from the vast majority of his peers - and this mystique is one of the countless reasons why fans are so drawn to Roddy's music.
